BARRY Town United boss Gavin Chesterfield has revealed that he tried and failed to get Newport County AFC striker Momodou Touray back on loan at Jenner Park for the new season.

Touray was named the Welsh Premier League young player of the season after scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances for the club in the 2018-2019 campaign.

The 19-year-old has been rewarded with an extension on his existing deal with County and has hopes to feature in the first-team squad this season.

He was hugely popular at Jenner Park and Barry, who began their Europa League campaign last week, had made inquiries to bring him back but a deal failed to materialise.

“There was potential at one point but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now,” Chesterfield told clwbpeldroed.org.

“You’ve got to look at your role. Our role was to give a talented young man an opportunity to play football and he earned it.

“Winning the Young Welsh Premier League player was a fitting tribute.

“He’s come and bought into everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s got his rewards. On the back of that he managed to get a couple of Wales under-21s caps.

“That’s naturally then going to bring him closer to his first team. And that’s part of my job, as much as I’d love for him to be here.”

South Wales Argus:

Touray recently told the Argus that he wants to repay the faith shown in him by Exiles boss Michael Flynn and prove he's worthy of a chance.

"The manager congratulated me for winning the young player of the year award and I'm grateful that he's showing an interest in me," said the striker, who turns 20 this month.

"He's given me another contract and I'm grateful for that and now is the time to repay him and hopefully help County get higher up the league again next year.

"Pre-season is going to be massive for me. Last year I didn't show enough for him to keep me in his squad.

"My aim this year is to try to get into the first-team squad and if I can that will be good for me and for the club.

"If not, then I'll just carry on working as I have in previous seasons."

The Wales under-21 international has so far made just one appearance for County in a competitive game when he came off the bench at Carlisle United on the final day of the 2017-2018 season.

He knows he still has to improve, but he believes his experience at Barry and the fact that he's been training with the County first team over the past nine months have helped him.

"I've not been used to games week in and week out over the last couple of years because I've played in college football and the standard is not the same as first-team football," said Touray.

"But at Barry I have been playing week in and week out, so that's helped my stamina and fitness a lot.

"I trained on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Newport and with Barry on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. It's helped my fitness.

"My aim now is just to carry on improving.

“I want to prove that I've listened to what the manager has said and that I want to develop and be a part of his team.”

Read more: Newport County director admits 'clock is ticking' on Rodney Parade deal